Educating Voters. Defending Democracy.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The Voter

April 2024

President's Letter

Keeping the Civility in Civic Engagement

Last month’s Housing Caucus meeting featured San Mateo County Executive Officer Mike Callagy speaking on the topic of Project Homekey in San Mateo County. Project Homekey is a state-wide program launched in 2020 that provides local government agencies with funds to purchase and rehabilitate housing, including hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings and other properties, and convert them into permanent, long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

So far, San Mateo County has established five Project Homekey sites in Redwood City, Redwood Shores, and San Mateo, and is working to establish two more. One of those proposed sites, in Millbrae, is currently the subject of a lawsuit citing Article 34 of the state constitution. The plaintiffs say that under Article 34, such a project must be approved by the city’s voters. In November, California voters will have a chance to weigh in by voting on an amendment to repeal Article 34.

The California League has a position on housing and homelessness that supports solutions to end homelessness. However, League positions do not instruct voters whether to support any specific project, with its unique benefits, needs and costs. That is left to the judgement of each voter.

Anyone who attempts to make significant change will encounter opposition – that is the nature of politics, and we are a political organization. Our League does not shy away from controversy. We work to educate our members and the wider public about important issues. During these contentious times, our members continue to provide a model of how informed voters can learn together, disagree about the best path forward, and remain in dialogue.

Margaret Lukens, president

County League Day:

How farmworkers harvested much needed support

On March 23, our league was joined by the South County League of Women Voters to hear from Rita Mancera, Executive Director of Puente de la Costa Sur.



Puente (which means bridge in Spanish) is a non-profit organization founded in 1998. It fosters wellness and prosperity for farmworkers and low-income households in the South Coast communities of Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar, and San Gregorio.

It is an exciting time for Puente. The organization was just awarded a $2 million grant from McKenzie Scott, Amazon’s co-founder, to expand its housing initiatives and further its excellent work. Recent accomplishments include purchase of a farm to save the farmworker housing on it, a first-in-the-county farmworker convention, and a much-needed mobile laundry service.

Our members came away informed and motivated.

For those who were not able to join us, or if you would like to see the information again, the presentation slides are here.  

Linda Jansen and Eileen Easterbrook, Program Planning

April General Meeting

California Redistricting—The League of Women Voters at Work

Join us for this important meeting on April 16, 2024 from noon-1:30 p.m., via Zoom. Register at the link below.

California Leagues are leading the fight for fair and transparent redistricting. With ‘At Large’ elections being increasingly replaced by district elections, Leagues across the state have stepped up to ensure that redistricting is being done fairly and with transparency. Our League was deeply involved in the most recent redistricting of San Mateo County Supervisor districts. Last year, at County League Day, both Leagues adopted redistricting as an issue for emphasis, in part because of the lessons learned from that experience. 

Please join our meeting on April 16th to hear Helen Hutchison, a past President of the League of Women Voters of California and its current Program Director. Helen will showcase the redistricting work the League has been doing at both state and local levels. Gain insights on driving effective change in San Mateo County. 

Linda Jansen, Program Planning

Elkanah Tisdale (1771-1835) (often falsely attributed to Gilbert Stuart)[1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

April Book Discussion

Inspired by the work of our Climate Change Caucus, our April book discussion will focus on a new release about climate change in our own backyard.

"California Against the Sea: Visions of Our Vanishing Coastline" by Rosanna Xia lovingly describes California's 1,200-mile coastline and asks, as climate chaos threatens places we cherish, will we finally grasp our collective capacity for change? Xia, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, talks to Indigenous leaders, community activists, small-town mayors, environmental scientists, and other voices who are forging a climate-wise future.

You don’t need to read the entire book to join the meeting. You may wish to read just Chapter 3, which focuses on Pacifica, home to several of our League members. Or dip into another chapter that interests you. Don’t have time to read a single page? You’re welcome to register, too, and we believe you’ll still find the discussion time well-spent. Everyone is welcome.

Discussion will be led by Margaret Lukens, LWVNCSMC president.

Our book discussion meeting will take place on Thursday, April 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Margaret Lukens, president

Housing Caucus

Monday, April 15: Regular Meeting, via Zoom

Many who work in our County cannot afford to live here. Join the Housing Caucus, committed to engaging and educating the Local League about our region’s affordability crisis. Register at the link below.

If you are new to our Caucus, please watch our April 11, 2023 General Meeting, Affordable Housing in San Mateo County: Behind the Numbers, to better understand some of the challenges and roadblocks our cities face, as they plan to reach the State's target of 48,000 new housing units--nearly 20,000 of which should be affordable--by 2031.

We meet monthly, on the third Monday at 5 p.m. Next month's meeting will be on May 20.

Elana Lieberman, co-chair, Housing Caucus

Climate Change Caucus

Next Meeting: April 17 at 5 p.m.

Click on the link below to register for our next Climate Change Caucus meeting on Wednesday April 17 at 5 p.m.

Join us as we work to raise awareness and help League members and San Mateo County residents make informed choices on social, political, and personal decisions that impact climate at local and global levels.

We hope to see you then!

Tina Doede, board member

Gail Whipple, board member

New (& Not So New)

Member Orientation

Thursday, May 9, 7–8 p.m. via Zoom

Click here to Register

or

Saturday, May 11, 10–11 a.m.

Plus optional social hour, 11–11:30 a.m.

at our office

444 Peninsula Avenue, Suite 1

(email membership@lwvncsmc.org to RSVP)

Welcome to our new members! Please join us for new member orientation to:

•    Learn about the League and find answers to your questions
•    Meet other League members
•    Discover how you can get involved

Whether you’re a new member or have been a member for a while and would like to reconnect, everyone is welcome. Prospective members are also welcome, so bring a friend.

Tina Doede, membership chair

“Welcome to California” photo credit: Tobias Müller (Twam), www.twam.info, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

SAVE THE DATE!

In-Person Annual Meeting, June 22nd

Save the morning of Saturday, June 22nd to join us and our exciting speaker, Dr. Melissa Michelson, Dean of Arts & Sciences at Menlo College. As a political science professor her research and publications have focused on effective voter mobilization. An important topic in this election year!

Meeting details to follow.

Legislative Interviews Update

We now have four completed legislative interviews available for review: State Senators Josh Becker and Scott Weiner, and Assemblymembers Diane Papan and Phil Ting. They may be accessed at the link below.

Completed 2024 legislative interviews

Tina Doede, board member

US: Many Threads, One Fabric

To represent everyone in our democracy we need to know what our neighbors value. With that goal, we offer cultural insights prompted by monthly events. 

April 2024: Autism Awareness Month

For more than two decades, we have seen the incidence of autism increase. When the diagnosis originated in the early 1940’s it referred to people with what we now think of as “low functioning” autism, whose inability to cope resulted in them being institutionalized. Though the diagnosis now refers to a spectrum of neurologically-based behaviors, negative judgment persists. For example, you may see someone seeming to have a “melt-down.” Think of it as a “flare-up,” as when you have a flat tire in the middle of the night, a flare calls for help. Similarly, the behavior is saying, “I’m having a problem here.” Self protection and comfort are first priorities for each of us. Seeing the behavior through this lens helps us respect that the individual is dealing with sensory overload that we’re not experiencing. 

Autism Awareness Month reminds us that diversity refers not only to ways of being, such as cultural and spiritual traditions, but ways of thinking and behaving as well.

Marlene Sulitaneau, member

The Wednesday Caucus

Wednesday, April 24, 10-11 a.m.

This informal meeting is all about conversation and camaraderie. Ask questions, share what you're working on, and gather inspiration.

All are welcome. Register here.

Welcome to Our New Members

Gina Miranda

Ammi Rostin

Mark Your Calendar

Stay Informed

Stay informed with updates and alerts from your state and national Leagues. Use these links to register:

• For California League updates, sent monthly: LWVC    
• For national League updates, sent twice a month: LWVUS (scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for e-mail updates).
• Subscribe to Bay Area Monitor Notes here

Keep an eye on our website, https://www.lwvncsmc.org, for the latest on upcoming events.

Join the League

We love having new members join us and help with the important work we are doing. Click here to join online or print out a mail-in form. Scholarships are available for new members. Please contact us at membership@lwvncsmc.org.